Common Word Reunion Community Service Silicon Valley 2014

SAN JOSE, California — On Sunday, March 2, 2014, 17 Christian and Muslim volunteers united to prepare and serve over 100 meals to hungry and homeless guests at InnVision's Montgomery Street Inn shelter. Volunteer orientation was led by Mr. Hikmet Ozkan of Pacifica Institute and Pastor Larry Albright of Lincoln Glen Church. Christian and Muslim volunteers united in buddy groups to get better acquainted. While Mr. Oktay Erbil of the Pacifica Institute led fellow Muslims in afternoon prayers, Christian volunteers observed and read a translation of the Arabic liturgy. Volunteers then collaborated to prepare a halal meal. It appeared volunteers accidentally prepared too much food for service, then another InnVision shelter down the road ended up being short on food that evening, so they came to enjoy the abundance. "As humans, we do our planning, but God has his plan, and He is the best of planners,” commented Mr. Erbil after the event. Volunteers dined together after meal service and enjoyed further conversation, building bridges of peace and understanding between the two faith communities.